Breakdown of sairiyou wo suru to, sigen wo mamoremasu.
をwo
direct object particle
とto
conditional particle
再利用するsairiyousuru
to reuse
再利用sairiyou
reuse
資源sigen
resource
守れるmamoreru
to be able to protect
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Questions & Answers about sairiyou wo suru to, sigen wo mamoremasu.
Why is 再利用をする used instead of just 再利用する?
Because 再利用 is a noun, and adding をする (“do”) turns many nouns into verbs. 再利用をする literally means “do reuse.” You can also contract it into the single verb 再利用する, so both patterns are correct and interchangeable. The を particle simply marks 再利用 as the object of する in the noun＋する construction.
Why are there two を particles in this sentence?
The first を marks 再利用 as the object of する (“to reuse”), and the second を marks 資源 as the object of 守れます (“can protect”). In Japanese, each verb takes its own object, so you’ll see を repeated when there are multiple verbs in one sentence.
What is the function of the と after する?
Here, と is the conditional と, meaning “when/if [you do X], then [Y happens].” It links 再利用をする with the inevitable result 資源を守れます. Compared to ～ば or ～たら, ～と often expresses a general truth or natural consequence.
Why is 守れます in the potential form instead of the plain 守ります?
守れます is the potential form of 守る, meaning “can protect.” The speaker wants to say that by reusing, one gains the ability or possibility to protect resources. If you used 守ります, it would simply state “protects resources,” losing the nuance of capability.
Where is the subject of the sentence?
The subject (e.g., “we,” “people,” or “you”) is omitted because Japanese often drops pronouns when context makes them clear. Here it’s implied that “we” or “one” reuses and thus “we” can protect resources.
Can I rephrase this sentence using ～れば or ～ことができる?
Yes. For example:
• 再利用すれば、資源を守ることができます。
• 再利用すれば、資源が守れます。
Both mean “If you reuse, you can protect resources,” but they use the ～ば conditional and the more explicit ～ことができる potential form.